The US’s 10 Shortest Jet Flights This Year

Most short-haul commercial flights operate for at least 30 minutes. However, there are a few routes that are significantly shorter. One example is Loganair’s service between Westray and Papa Westray in Scotland, which lasts only a couple of minutes. The United States also has its share of ultra-short routes, particularly in Alaska and Hawaii, where small aircraft connect remote communities and islands over distances of less than ten miles.

In addition, there are a few scheduled commercial routes in the US, especially between small islands and remote destinations, that are notably short, with some spanning as little as 31 miles. Using scheduled data made available by aviation analytics provider Cirium, we reviewed the shortest routes currently flying in the country.

These Are The Shortest Routes Operating In The US This Year

American Airlines Embraer E-175 departing; Southwest and Delta Air Lines aircraft in the background

The shortest route operating this year is Alaska Airlines’ service between Wrangell and Petersburg in southeast Alaska. The route spans just 31 miles (50 km) and is operated once daily using a Boeing 737-700. The second-shortest route is also operated by Alaska Airlines, linking Juneau and Gustavus. This service is a seasonal service, covering approximately 41 miles (66 km).

Alaska launched the service in 2024, and this year it is scheduled to operate one daily flight between the two cities from June 6 through the end of August, again using a Boeing 737-700. Beyond this, the Chicago O’Hare–Milwaukee route is also among the shortest services in the United States. The route is operated by both American Airlines and United Airlines and spans just 67 miles (108 km).

Top 10 Shortest US Flights In 2026
Average Distance	Route	Airline	Equipment
31 miles	Wrangell–Petersburg	Alaska Airlines	Boeing 737-700
41 miles	Juneau–Gustavus	Alaska Airlines	Boeing 737-700
64 miles	Miami–Bimini	American Airlines	Embraer E-175
67 miles	Chicago O’Hare–Milwaukee	United Airlines	Embraer E-175, Bombardier CRJ-500
67 miles	Chicago O’Hare–Milwaukee	American Airlines	Embraer E-175, Bombardier CRJ-700, Embraer E-170
68 miles	San Juan–St Thomas Island	JetBlue	Airbus A320
70 miles	Boston–Martha’s Vineyard	JetBlue	Airbus A220-300
72 miles	Denver–Colorado Springs	Southwest Airlines	Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800
72 miles	Denver–Colorado Springs	United Airlines	Boeing 737-800, Airbus A320, Airbus A319, Embraer E-175, Bombardier CRJ-500, Bombardier CRJ-700
74 miles	Detroit–Lansing	Delta Air Lines	Bombardier CRJ-700, Bombardier CRJ-900

American Airlines’ New Route To Bimini Is The Shortest International Route From The US

American Airlines Embraer E-175 aircraft

As shown in the table above, the shortest international jet route from the United States this year will be American Airlines’ new service to the Bahamas. From February 14, the carrier, operating under its American Eagle brand, will launch flights between Miami and Bimini. The route will be operated three times per week using Envoy Air’s Embraer E175 aircraft.

According to available data, the market last saw nonstop service in 2018, when it was operated by Bahamasair. Once launched, the Miami–Bimini route will become American’s shortest scheduled service. At present, the oneworld member’s shortest route is between Chicago O’Hare and Milwaukee, spanning around 67 miles (108 km).

Besides this, there are a couple of other international routes that span under 100 miles. One example is Dominican charter carrier Volo Airways, which operates flights between Aguadilla and Punta Cana. The route covers approximately 82 miles. Another notably short international sector is Alaska’s service between Seattle and Victoria, which spans around 98 miles. It is the carrier’s shortest international route.